He’s a legend in the game, so DJ Kay Slay will always have opinions about the evolution of hip hop. Recently, Kay Slay released his latest project Living Legend that features a slew of heavy-hitters including Queen Latifah, Bun B, Raekwon, AZ, Ghostface Killah, Dave East, A$AP Ferg, and Big K.R.I.T. Helping to promote the album, Slay visited Sway in the Morning to talk all things hip hop. At the end of his interview, he was asked, “What artist went beyond your expectations?” and he admitted to underestimating Kendrick Lamar.

The radio host said, “Now, okay. Whoever’s listening…this is some sh*t I goofed on. Back when Kendrick Lamar was K-Dot, I remember going out to the West Coast and me and Top Dawg, we real cool. Jay Rock was the key artist and every time Kendrick see me, he’d stop me. ‘You, Slay!'” He then mimicked Kendrick Lamar rapping. Eventually, Top Dawg asked Slay about helping with Kendrick’s career, but Slay turned him down because he believed the public wasn’t interested in hearing “lyrical artists right now.” Slay admitted that the “climate changed” and Kendrick Lamar went farther than he expected.

Elsewhere, Slay talked about what makes a rapper a legend. Sway said that some people believe a rap legend has to have a career that has at least spanned a decade. Slay didn’t adhere to those rules. “Technically, once you inspired enough people—an artist can come out in a year and he could get a fanbase where he making young kids wanna stop smoking weed, he making them might wanna read books a little more. He’s tellin’ him save money. If they actually following him and doing what he’s saying, or even if it’s a preacher that’s doing that or even if it’s a guy in the street who has a whole style…at the end of the day. People are gonna talk about you. You gonna be a legend.”

Watch DJ Kay Slay’s interview with Sway in the Morning below and check out what else he had to say about hip hop being the only genre that doesn’t pay homage to older generations.

Following the death of Pop Smoke, Meek Mill has been taking to Instagram to reflect on the dangers of the rap game and how they can be circumvented. A few days ago, he lamented that black men were killing each other at an alarming rate, using Smoke’s likeness to drive the distressing point home. Today he’s back with another word of advice on the topic, once again using Pop Smoke to reiterate the importance of his message. 

Meek shared a clip of Pop Smoke and DJ Kay Slay speaking on the dangers of ascension, in which Kay Slay maintains that soldiers should be kept close at all times. “Money don’t change you but when you become a boss, guess what?” says the legendary DJ. “That’s what soldiers is for! You the king, they supposed to protect you on the muthafuckin’ chess board. If your head drop, if you get locked down, what happens to them?” Smoke seems impressed by the take, agreeing with Kay Slay’s perspective — down his final warning, haunting in retrospect: “All ya’ll n***as around Pop Smoke, protect him with your mothafuckin’ life.” 

 Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Meek offered his own take on the discourse, showing Kay Slay some respect in the process. “YOUNGBULLS LISTEN!!!!! REST UP POP!!!! SOLID GAME!! @djkayslay,” he captions. “If you not protecting me or adding value it’s no place for you!!! #restuppop YOU CANNOT GO FROM WORKER TO BOSS AND SURVIVE WITHOUT CHANGE!”

At this point, Meek Mill appears to be taking on the role of a wizened OG, using his platform to share his experience to those transitioning from the streets to the industry. As it’s becoming abundantly clear, a few difficulties are inherent in making a change of that nature. Old grudges aren’t exactly quick to fade once money becomes involved — if anything, they only intensify. Check out Meek’s message below.

After taking a few days off to celebrate the New Year, 50 Cent and French Montana are back at each other’s throats. Closing out the decade, 50 Cent managed to find himself a new target, going after French Montana after the rapper escaped a terrifying hospital stay in the ICU, copping himself a Bugatti Veyron to celebrate life. Considering he also joined the Bugatti club this holiday season, 50 Cent went ahead and clowned his fellow New York star for allegedly buying an older model of the vehicle. Then, he dug deep and seemingly found loan paperwork on the whip, alleging that he’ll be paying it off over the next sixty months. French Montana decided to find his own ammo on Fif, unearthing an old photo that appears to show the rapper and Eminem engaging in a lip-locked moment.

“BACK TO BACK AGAINNNNN WHOS THAT 59,” yelled Montana in his caption, sharing the photo on his social media channels. “COULDNT EVEN GET A BUGGATTI AFTER THAT DINOSAUR, look at my dawg Kay slay face lol.”

French is referring to DJ Kay Slay, who stands in the corner of the shot looking bothered by the alleged embrace happening right next to him. The two men in the picture are unidentified and seen from the side so it’s not certain that it’s actually Em and Fif. However, you can’t deny that the two men look like the rap legends. The era makes sense too.

Where do you see this heading next?